Op-Ed: British people are used to tut-tutting about people of other cultures living in the UK. More often than not lately the target is people of the Muslim faith but here is a story making headlines involving orthodox Jews living in London, England.

BBC News reports "Leaders of the ultra-Orthodox Belz sect in north London wrote to parents saying "no child will be allowed to learn in our school" if their mother drives. Women driving "goes against the laws of modesty within our society", it said."

Friday the fall-out begins.

The government's Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities, Nicky Morgan, weighed in saying it was unacceptable. "If schools do not actively promote the principle of respect for other people they are breaching the independent school standards. Where we are made aware of such breaches we will investigate and take any necessary action to address the situation." In the UK some faith schools, again notably of the Islamic faith, have been scrutinised and some have been closed down.

Various types of public and private schools receive some funding from the government. But either way they are all charged with helping educate well-adjusted children who will become part of British society.

In Britain women have the same chance of learning to drive, and then using a vehicle, as any man.

What message does the driving ban send out to young children, women and men?

Arguments by the leaders of the ultra-Orthodox Belz sect claim women should not face road-rage and stressful driving. "The Belz, who originated in Ukraine in the early 19th Century, are an ultra-Orthodox sect who follow Haredi Judaism."

As the leaders are all men their statement is disrespectful to women and again pigeon-holes all females.

But wait "If women have a specific need to drive they can put a request to a special committee".

Perhaps these leaders simply want to make sure they keep control of the 'fair-sex' for their own agenda.

But the big cheese of this religion, in Israel, Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach, said "if a woman is driving a car, she cannot send her children to be educated in Belz institutions."

Their arguments date back to a time before cars were even invented and that makes the religion look like just another extremist group.

British Home Secretary Theresa May is working on implementing counter-extremism measures which should also protect religious freedoms.

If Belz was part of the Muslim faith we all know where this story would be going but it is not.

The people involved however live in the UK where there are laws to protect the rights of women.

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